10 ways to release beauty boosting hormones

Last Friday, I attended a Phyto Hormonal Therapy Talk at True Beauty and learnt more about the connection between hormones and aging. As the talk was conducted in Mandarin, I wasn’t able to comprehend all the information but I managed to establish that having hormonal balance is key to feeling and looking good. In addition, we can do simple things to regulate some of our hormones, such as serotonin, melatonin and endorphins, which are important hormones that can affect our well being and thus, our beauty.

Serotonin indirectly or directly controls most brain functions, such as mood and sleep cycle plus it regulates many of the vital systems in the body, including our cardiovascular, immune, and gastrointestinal systems. Melatonin helps control the timing and release of female reproductive hormones. Endorphins on the other hand, give you a sense of happiness, satisfaction and well-being and also functions as the body’s natural pain medication hormones. These are important hormones that can act as beauty boosters! In fact, I’ve written about how endorphins are great natural supplement for our skin. The production of hormones is a complex process but here, I’ll take you through 10 ways on how we can increase some of these hormones naturally.

1. Shopping
We start off with the easiest and that is, to go shopping! Yes, shopping is good for us because it releases mood lifting endorphins! Surely you know about this already don’t you? *wink* Some even say that shopping is better than sex! So here’s another valid reason to buy more bags and shoes!

2. Laughter
The saying that laughter is the best medicine is true because endorphins are released during laughter, making us feel happy. So relax and have fun! Watch a funny movie, chill out with good company and trade jokes!

3. Sleep
Sleep gives the body an opportunity to rejuvenate itself and prepare for another day of life. Lack of sleep disrupts hormone production and can keep your brain from producing enough serotonin. It’ll be good to get eight hours of quality sleep but the most important is to sleep by 10pm or 11pm as that’s the prime time our body regenerates.

4. Omega-3 rich diet
Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids can help reverse stress symptoms by boosting serotonin levels, and that an omega-3-rich diet can also help suppress the production of the anxiety hormones cortisol and adrenaline. So up your intake on salmon and fish oil today!

5. Chocolates
Sometimes know as the happy pills, eating chocolate is good for our hormones. However, it’s best to consume dark chocolates that contain 80% of cocoa as otherwise, you maybe taking too much refined sugar with the usual supermarket supplies.

6. Exercise
Moderate exercise can increase your happy hormone and improve your well being as it can help produce both serotonin and endorphins. This is why I love bouncing for half an hour daily on my trampoline!

7. Massage
Massage helps relieve stress and causes the body to release many therapeutic mood and health enhancing chemicals. It also increases serotonin and endorphins. So once in a while, indulge in a full body massage. Or get it at home from your partner, or children!

8. Sex
On top of releasing endorphins, according to research at Royal Edinburgh Hospital, it found that sex is an aerobic form of exercise that pumps higher levels of oxygen around the body, pushing newer, fresher skin cells up to the surface. A good excuse to have frequent sex with your partner!

9. Vtamin B Complex
All of the B vitamins are vital for energy and the production of serotonin. You can get vitamin B from eating more whole grains, green vegetables and dairy products. A quality vitamin B supplement is also recommended to make up for any dietary deficiencies.

10. Sunshine
Although UV radiation from the sun is detrimental for our skin, we shouldn’t avoid the sun totally. Sunlight naturally stimulates the production of serotonin and signals the body to stop producing melatonin. As such, getting plenty of natural light will boost your mood and your energy. Anyway, I don’t think this is a problem for those of us in Singapore as we get our share of the sun all year round!

No. 1 is GREAT news for shopaholics like me. I reckon that’s true because although I am closing in 40, many around me comment that I look like in my late 20s. Hahaha…. Joking! Jokes aside, I am always my happiest when I shop and spend $$$. I only get stress when the credit card statements come. And that time of the month is worse than PMS.

what i’ve been doing recently is to use cocoa powder (from reputable brands such as green&blacks), and make hot/iced chocolate drinks. i dont usually add that much sugar (in fact sometimes i sneak in a bit of milo and i dont add sugar at all).

usually sneaking in the milo balances out the bitterness (though it might be just me because i usually take dark chocolate), another way to balance the bitterness is to use warm milk… warm milk usually tastes a little sweeter than cold IMO.